Monday, April 20, 2009

Topsy Turvy and Totally Green

Have you seen the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter? It's made of a plastic-y fabric, green with a green print. Big and really pretty ugly.

My wonderful Hubby spent yesterday doing some planting. He planted some peppers into our vegetable garden (which hasn't been planted yet this year), potted some herbs and lilies into pots for our front patio, and re-did our strawberry patch yesterday. A few weeks ago he bought one of those Topsy Turvy tomato things and a tomato plant, and it has been hanging in our office window since then. Yesterday he hooked up a hanging rod near our front door- by the new pots- and hung the tomato thing. I'm glad he did it, but it had zero curb appeal!

So today, crafty lady that I am, I grabbed some outdoor fabric and made a cover for it! What do you think?

Thanks, elle!I don't have a pattern. I measured and guessed... I think I cut a piece that was 20" x 30".

I folded the 30" side down .25", then another .5", and hemmed along the very edge of the fold a couple of times- for extra strength. I did that along both lengths of the longer edge- making the piece about 18.5"x30".

Then I folded it in half (inside out) so the folded piece was about 18.5x15. I hemmed along the unsewn edge a couple of times, using a .25" seam allowance. I was careful NOT to sew past my stitches along the other edge.

After all this sewing was done, I threaded 1/4 inch elastic through the tubes I'd created with the folding and hemming in the first step. One end has way more elastic than the other, making a smaller unstretched opening in one end.

I finished sewing the rest of the way up the short side, sewing the elastic into place. And that's it! I'm afraid that these directions don't make a lot of sense, but you're basically just sewing a tube with elastic along the top and bottom ends. I put the end with the larger unstretched opening at the top of the thing, with the smaller around the base where the plant comes out.

I was going to add ties or something to tie it to the planter wires at the top, but mine turned out to be a pretty tight fit (it took some work to get it on!), and I decided that it isn't going anywhere and doesn't need ties.

I love the idea. You are very talented. I am also a mom who loves to sew and have been teaching myself how to quilt. I love your blog and look forward to reading more. I think I am gonna try this though. I found the green plastic like material for the planters just awful and think this is a great idea. THANKS

Great minds find each other. This is exactly PART of what I was thinking. THEN, I thought: how might this affect the sun getting to it and growing ability? Anyone know/thought about that part. I'll make one in a heartbeat, IF it won't destroy the processThanks....from a California sun-worshipper, with zero 'growing' skills!

So who is this gal that was recently referred to as "a mystery lady known only as 'Blondie'"? Well, I WAS a SAHM to 2 beautiful kids- after 4 years, I've recently returned to the workforce! I love to quilt and sew, but it seems that I never have enough time to do either (does anyone?) My sewing machine helps me to maintain/regain my sanity after crazy days with kids. Reading blogs helps me remember that I'm not alone in the madness that is life... I blog about my kids, my life, and my crafting... and sometimes about cooking and WW's Core plan (which is WAY better than Flex!). My latest blogging adventure is all about the drama in the restaurant where I bartend (names have been changed to protect the guilty). I don't blog nearly as often as I'd like, life seems to get in the way! Have questions? Email me!